A dental nurse has been erased from the GDC register with immediate effect after police found her in possession of an indecent photo of a child.
Bahareh Zahiri-Dastjerdi was removed from the register after the GDC argued that there was ‘actual harm and a risk of harm to others’ as a result of her actions.
On 26 April 2021, Zahiri-Dastjerdi received a police caution for possession of an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child, contrary to Section 160 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988.
According to the Professional Conduct Committee hearing, Zahiri-Dastjerdi – a registered dental nurse – had shown a video to a colleague in the reception area at her place of work.
The video was said to have been deleted by Zahiri-Dastjerdi after the event. As a result, a copy could not be provided for the hearing.
Dentistry’s top stories
‘Grave concern’
However, the committee considered a description of the nature of the video, as given by the individuals who were interviewed as part of an internal investigation by Zahiri-Dastjerdi’s employer.
The video was said to include a young woman described as in her early 20s and a very young boy estimated to be about four years old. It included indecent content.
The report reads: ‘The GDC takes the view that any conviction for child pornography against a GDC registrant is a matter of grave concern because it breaches the public trust and undermines public confidence in the profession.
‘For these reasons, any involvement in child pornography by a GDC registrant should lead the committee to consider whether erasure is the only proportionate sanction.’
Unless Zahiri-Dastjerdi exercises her right of appeal, the GDC states that her name will be erased from the register 28 days from the date that the notice is served upon her.
Follow Dentistry.co.uk on Instagram to keep up with all the latest dental news and trends.
